Lineup Prep: Wild Card Weekend
Wed Jan 11 9:16am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Kittle can keep it going this week
More and more fantasy owners are playing in playoff leagues, and for good reason. They are a lot of fun contests and leagues out there these days. We run several on our site. Your fantasy leagues don’t have to come to an end because the regular season is over. I highly suggest getting involved in a league if you can. It is a great way to get your fantasy fix a little longer. Plus, there are a lot of interesting formats for leagues, giving you a different fantasy dynamic than during the regular season. So we’ll continue with this column throughout the playoffs, getting you ready for your games each week.
With that said, here are my random thoughts for the week. . . . .
I’m really excited to watch the Jaguars this weekend. They are a team on the rise with a lot of top young talent. It will be interesting to see how they play on the big stage. Trevor Lawrence was a little shaky last week, so I’m wondering how he handles things this weekend. These playoff games can vault a players confidence in a hurry. I’m hoping Lawrence comes up big and balls out, keeping his progress going forward.
It really seems like the knee injury Lamar Jacksons suffered is pretty serious and he is in real doubt to play this week. You also have to wonder if the contract situation is playing into this at all for Jackson. Maybe he doesn’t want to risk anything without a long-term deal signed. Who knows? Either way, the Ravens have next to no chance to win that game this weekend if Jackson can’t play.
Here is to hoping the Bears use that first round pick this year to get the help that Justin Fields needs. Their offensive line needs upgrades and the passing game needs a lot of help at receiver. Hopefully, they can turn that top pick into a lot more picks to get Fields help. This is a big offseason for the Bears. I will be anxious to see how they handle it all.
I really do wonder how much of a negative impact Nathaniel Hackett had on Russell Wilson. He sure looked like a different quarterback after Hackett was fired late in the year. Maybe we shouldn’t give up on him just yet. The Broncos do have a lot of weapons in the passing game, so Wilson has a high ceiling if he can get his game back. Wilson surely will be a polarizing fantasy figure next season. I might be in on him for the right price, though.
I’m having a hard time deciding on the representatives for the Super Bowl this year. The AFC is really tough with the Bills, Chiefs and Bengals as legit contenders to go all the way. And I even think the Chargers are talented enough to make a run. So I really think four teams could go the Super Bowl out of the AFC. The NFC isn’t quite as tough in my view, mainly because the Vikings and Cowboys are limping into the playoffs. That leaves the Eagles and 49ers as the obvious choices. And it is hard to bet against the 49ers right now with that team playing so well. The big concern for me is Brock Purdy. Can he make the big play if called upon? So I say this with little conviction, I will go with the Bills and Eagles as the winner of their conferences. We’ll see how that works out!
News and Notes: Reports are the Cardinals plan to trade receiver DeAndre Hopkins this offseason. He is getting older and has battled injury the last few seasons, but could be a big help to a receiver needy team. . . . .The Ravens signed linebacker Roquan Smith to a five-year, 100 million dollar extensions on Tuesday. Smith is now a mainstay in the Ravens defense for years to come.
HOT PLAYS
George Kittle, TE, 49ers. It took a little time but Kittle is red hot right now. He has touchdowns four straight games and multiple scores three of those games. And one of those games came against the Seahawks, who he plays this week. Kittle had four catches for 93 yards and two scores against the Seahawks in Week 15. Seattle has struggled against the tight end all year. The Seahawks allow the second most fantasy points to tight ends. Kittle is setup for a big game in this one.
Travis Etienne, RB, Jaguars. Etienne struggled his last game, rushing seven time for just 17 yards. but that was against a good Titans rush defense. He had at least 13 fantasy points three straight before last week. And Etienne had 100-yard rushing games two his last three before Week 18. He can get it going again this week against the Chargers. The Chargers allow the seventh most fantasy points to running backs and rank 28th overall against the rush.
Chris Godwin, WR, Bucs. Godwin topped 100 receptions for the first time in his career this season. And this was a year he was coming off a torn ACL and missed a couple games because of injury. He is clearly healthy and the top target in this passing game. He has at least five receptions 14 straight games. Look for him to keep it going in the Bucs playoff opener. The Cowboys have had issues stopping the pass, so look for Godwin to get a workout. Dallas allows the fifth most fantasy points to receivers.
COLD PLAYS
Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys. Prescott is coming off arguably his worst game of the season. He was just 14-of-37 for 128 yards and a touchdown against the Commander last week. It was an alarming performance as the Cowboys head into the playoffs. And he plays a Bucs team on the road that is ninth overall against the pass to open things. It might be another long day for Prescott in this matchup.
Kenneth Walker, RB, Seahawks. Walker had a great rookie season, emerging as the lead back and producing big in that role. He had three straight 100-yard games to end his season. But the game before that streak was against the 49ers, a game he ran 12 times for just 47 yards. It might be more of the same this week against a very good San Francisco defense. The 49ers are second overall against the run and allow the fewest fantasy points to running backs this year.
Tua Tagovailoa or whoever plays QB for the Dolphins. Tagovailoa really cooled off down the stretch before his latest concussion. He had few than 20 fantasy points four of his last five games. He also plays the Bills this week, a team he scored about 33 fantasy points against in two games this year. Buffalo allows the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks for the season. Tagovailoa or whoever starts for the Dolphins at quarterback this week is going to be a risk for fantasy owners.
SLEEPERS
Daniel Jones, QB, Giants. Jones quietly put together a very good season. He took a big step forward this year in an offense that really lacks weapons in the passing game. Despite that, Jones was 12th overall in fantasy quarterback scoring. He had 25-plus fantasy points two straight games to end his season and topped 20 points four of his last five. He has a great matchup to produce in his playoff debut. The Vikings have struggled against the pass all season, allowing the fifth most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Minnesota is just 31st overall against the pass, allowing 265.6-passing yards per game.
James Cook, RB, Bills. Cook has enjoyed a bit of an up and down rookie season, but is playing his best football right now. He has double-digit fantasy points three of his last five games. Don’t discount him to have a big game or two in the playoffs. You could see the Bills getting up big in this one, running out the clock late in the game. This could mean more touches for Cook, who might be playing better than Devin Singletary right now. The Dolphins are solid against the run but have allowed 15-rushing touchdowns this season, which also bodes well for Cook.
Richie James, WR, Giants. James has emerged as the top receiver for the Giants. He has at least seven receptions three of four games. He has topped 17 fantasy points three of those games. He also has at least 13 fantasy points five of seven. He is getting it done on a weekly basis. And he gets a bad Vikings secondary this week. Minnesota allows the second most fantasy points to receivers. James is setup to top double-digit fantasy points once again.
High/Low Scoring Games
Each week we will take a look at some of the high and low scoring games for the coming week. In high scoring affairs, get your marginal players on those teams in your lineup to take advantage of the possible points barrage. And in the low scoring games, keep those marginal players on the bench and make sure to have your defenses involved in those contests.
High Scoring Games: Chargers/Jaguars, Giants/Vikings.
Low Scoring Games: Cowboys/Bucs.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
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- Bengals WR Tee Higgins (concussion) injured vs. Patriots
- Patriots LT Will Campbell (leg) carted off field vs. Bengals
- Packers RB Josh Jacobs (knee) out vs. Vikings
- Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers (wrist) out against Bears; Mason Rudolph to start
- Bears place standout LB Tremaine Edmunds (groin) on IR
- Shedeur Sanders' first start spawns prop markets
- Cowboys waive CB Kaiir Elam, add RB Malik Davis
- Eagles C Cam Jurgens to play vs. Cowboys
- Rams LB Nate Landman reaches 3-year, $22.5M extension
- Colts activate S Charvarius Ward from IR
- Bengals QB Joe Burrow won't return Sunday vs. Patriots
- 49ers void Brandon Aiyuk's 2026 guarantees
- Retirement era? Chiefs TE Travis Kelce not talking '26
- Falcons rule out Drake London (knee), Billy Bowman Jr. (Achilles) vs. Saints
- Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers (wrist) questionable vs. Bears on Sunday
- Bucs WR Chris Godwin 'trending towards playing'
- Bengals QB Joe Burrow questionable to play Sunday vs. New England
- Packers open 21-day practice window for WR Jayden Reed
- Lions TE Sam LaPorta (back) likely out for season
- Week 12 NFL Capsules
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Rankings
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Start-Sit Week 12: Dak Prescott, Michael Wilson, and More Tough Calls
- Fantasy Six Pack: IDP Football Rankings
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Week 11 Players to Stash: Grab ’em Before They’re Hot
- Fantasy Life: 4 Tricky RB Decisions for the Week 12 Slate
- Fantasy Life: Drake Maye Breakout is Beyond Fantasy Football
- Fantasy Life: Week 12 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Shedeur Sanders, Rhamondre Stevenson and More
- Fantasy Life: Your Fantasy Football Week 12 Prep Guide
- Fantasy Life: Week 12 Late-Week Streamers: Andrei Iosivas, Luther Burden and More
- Fantasy Life: Week 12 Fantasy Football Injury Report: Joe Burrow, Josh Jacobs Will Sit, Will Others Play?
The Paur Report
New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs caught just two of three targets for 20 yards during Sunday's Week 12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. His underwhelming performance was likely the result of Drake Maye funneling a large portion of his pass attempts to the tight end position. Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper combined for 10 catches, 154 yards, and one touchdown against a Bengals defense notorious for getting exposed by tight ends. Diggs saw his streak of five double-digit fantasy performances (PPR) come to an end on Sunday afternoon, but he's still a mid-range WR2 in terms of scoring this year. He should continue to be started in most leagues ahead of Week 13 against the New York Giants.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye completed 22 of his 35 pass attempts for 294 yards, one touchdown, and one interception during Sunday's Week 12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He also rushed for 22 yards and took a sack. Maye wasn't able to rack up high-end fantasy scoring, but his significant yardage total and strong final three quarters helped New England cruise to its ninth consecutive victory. The Patriots are the first team to 10 wins and have sole possession of first place in the entire NFL, largely thanks to Maye's spectacular season. Even though Sunday's outing didn't set the world on fire, his track record indicates that he should have no trouble bouncing back as a strong QB1 option against a subpar Giants defense in Week 13.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson had 28 carries for 107 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns during Sunday's Week 12 win over the Minnesota Vikings. He also caught each of his two targets for an additional 18 receiving yards. Wilson was very impressive was handling a large workload on Sunday. With Josh Jacobs (knee) sidelined, he accounted for 78% of the backfield's rushing attempts. The 26-year-old's ability to be efficient while handling heavy volume should earn him more opportunities going forward, even if Jacobs returns to action next week. The Packers face the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, giving Jacobs four days to recover. If the veteran back suits up, Wilson could still carve out standalone value as an RB3/flex. If Jacobs misses a second consecutive game, though, the Fort Valley State product could jump to the high-end RB2 tier against Detroit.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (ankle) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Cleveland Browns. He exited during the first half and was initially listed as questionable before being downgraded to out. He finishes the game with one catch for 14 yards. Mayer impressed earlier this season while filling in for the injured Brock Bowers, but ever since Bowers returned, Mayer has not been a fantasy scoring threat. Ian Thomas will step up as Vegas' No. 2 tight end behind Bowers.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry caught seven of his 10 targets for 115 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's Week 12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. It's no secret that Cincinnati is the worst team in the NFL when it comes to defending opposing tight ends, and Henry capitalized on this favorable matchup. The veteran entered this week as the overall TE13 in PPR leagues, but he jumped all the way into the top five on Sunday afternoon. He's unlikely to replicate this outing next Thursday against the New York Giants, but he's still worth starting as a low-end TE1 in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson rushed for 66 yards on 18 carries during Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. He also caught three of his four targets for an additional 15 receiving yards. There was some concern about Henderson's role with Rhamondre Stevenson returning from injury. While Stevenson did earn some touches, Henderson remained the primary running back. Now that he has the lead role all to himself, the rookie needs to turn his attention to improving his efficiency. He averaged 3.7 yards per carry on Sunday, just one game removed from averaging 3.3 yards per carry against the Jets. If he can improve his scoring or yardage efficiency, he can be an RB1 going forward. In the meantime, he ranks as more of a mid-range RB2 for Week 13 against the New York Giants.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee) exited during the first half of Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. He is officially listed as questionable to return. At the time of his departure, he had three carries for 11 rushing yards, plus two catches for an additional four receiving yards. The dual-threat back is just one game removed from a 14.5-point (PPR) showing, but he'll need to get back on the field this Sunday if he wants to replicate that performance. With Kamara sidelined and Kendre Miller (knee) on IR, Devin Neal will step up as the Saints' primary running back for the time being.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson caught nine of his 14 targets for 156 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 12 overtime loss against the Detroit Lions. Jameis Winston quarterbacked the Giants again this week, and his gunslinger style of play allowed the young receiver to rack up a whopping 156 yards through the air. The 24-year-old pass catcher has been quite impressive as the de facto No. 1 receiver in Malik Nabers' absence, ranking as the overall WR17 in the eight weeks since Nabers went down. Robinson's ceiling may decline a little next week when Jaxson Dart (concussion) returns under center, but Dart still has the passing skills needed to keep Robinson in the WR2 tier. He should continue to be started in most leagues as he takes on the New England Patriots in Week 13.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston completed 18 of his 36 pass attempts for 366 yards, two passing touchdowns, and one interception during Sunday's Week 12 win over the Detroit Lions. He also got involved in some trickery, adding a third touchdown on a 33-yard reception that was thrown to him by wide receiver Gunner Olszewski. Winston's turnover and low completion rate were unfortunate, but his high yardage and three total touchdowns made him a valuable fantasy option once again. Unfortunately for fantasy managers who were relying on him as a streamer, Winston will head back to the bench in Week 13 if Jaxson Dart (concussion) clears concussion protocol, as expected. The offense belongs to Dart once again, but at least we've seen that Winston can be a fringe top-12 fantasy quarterback if he ever gets thrust back into the starting role.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs had 15 carries for 219 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns during Sunday's Week 12 overtime victory over the New York Giants. He also caught 11 of 12 targets for an additional 45 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. The 23-year-old enjoyed one of the most memorable games of his young career, amassing more than 55 fantasy points in PPR leagues and helping Detroit secure an overtime victory. The highlights of Gibbs' games were a 49-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter and a 69-yard rushing touchdown in overtime. He will remain a spectacular high-end RB1 option against the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day in Week 13.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught eight of his 10 targets for 167 yards and two touchdowns during Sunday's Week 12 win against the Tennessee Titans. He also had a four-yard rush. The 23-year-old entered this week as the overall WR1 in PPR leagues, and he only widened the gap between himself and every other receiver with Sunday's explosion. The 23-year-old now has at least 20 fantasy points (PPR) in each of his last seven games, as well as nine of 11 games this season. It goes without saying that Smith-Njigba should be viewed as a must-start WR1 for Week 13 against the Minnesota Vikings.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that he expects quarterback Aaron Rodgers (wrist) to play in next Sunday's Week 13 contest against the Buffalo Bills. Although Rodgers sat out this week's loss against the Chicago Bears, it sounds like his absence will last just one game. He was reportedly pushing to play against the Bears in Week 12, but the Steelers' medical personnel ultimately held him out. The veteran quarterback is 6-4 this season with 19 passing touchdowns and seven interceptions, ranking as the overall QB17 in fantasy football. Assuming he doesn't suffer any sort of setbacks within the next week, Rodgers should suit up against Buffalo, ranking as a mid-to-high QB2 in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson finished Sunday with four catches on six targets for 48 receiving yards in a 23-6 loss at Green Bay. The superstar receiver once again was hampered by a horrible offensive performance overall, as Minnesota gained 145 total yards as a team. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy finished 12-for-19 passing for 89 with two interceptions as the Vikings managed to run only 45 total plays. Jefferson still led the team in receiving, but that didn't say much on a day in which Minnesota gained four yards in the second half. Fantasy managers will have to hope the Vikings can turn the corner, and quickly, as the team travels to Seattle in Week 13.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray (head) exited during the fourth quarter of Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Indianapolis Colts. He has entered concussion protocol and is questionable to return. At the time of his departure, he had caught three of his four targets for 25 receiving yards. Gray will be evaluated as medical personnel assess whether he's experiencing the symptoms of a concussion. If a concussion is confirmed, Gray would automatically be ruled out, and he'd likely miss Thursday's game against the Cowboys, too. In the meantime, Robert Tonyan will step up as the Chiefs' No. 2 tight end behind Travis Kelce.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. finished Sunday with 41 yards on nine carries and caught three of four targets for 19 yards as the Vikings lost convincingly, 23-6, on Sunday at Green Bay. Jones did well enough in his limited usage, but the Vikings ran only 45 plays and gained 145 total yards, which included a total of four yards in the second half. Minnesota surrendered five sacks, quarterback J.J. McCarthy threw two more interceptions without a touchdown, and the Vikings committed a special teams turnover that doomed the day. Fantasy managers still got something from Jones, even on an awful day, which is the closest thing to a silver lining the Vikings have at the moment. Minnesota will travel to Seattle in Week 13.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison did not record a catch and saw only one target as the Vikings lost 23-6 on Sunday at Green Bay. The Minnesota offense reached a new low on Sunday by running only 44 plays for 145 yards, which included a brutal four total yards in the entire second half. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy completed 12 passes for 89 yards and threw two more interceptions without a touchdown. Addison was never a factor as Minnesota attempted to control the game on the ground, but fell behind and saw the Green Bay pass rush overwhelm the offensive line for five sacks. Managers have now seen a month straight of little performance from Addison, whose Vikings are at Seattle next week.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (concussion) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's Week 12 contest against the New England Patriots. Higgins exited in the fourth quarter after his head hit the turf while attempting to catch a pass. He was taken to the locker room for evaluation and quickly ruled out. The 26-year-old finishes the game with six targets, five catches, and 31 receiving yards. Cincinnati finds itself very short-staffed on offense with Joe Burrow (foot) on IR, Ja'Marr Chase suspended, Tahj Brooks (concussion) ruled out, and now Higgins sidelined. Andrei Iosivas, Mitch Tinsley, and Charlie Jones will operate as the top wide receivers in Joe Flacco's offense for the remainder of Week 12.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin (hamstring) exited during the second half of Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. He is officially listed as questionable to return. At the time of his departure, he had one catch for 48 yards, as well as a 40-yard kick return. The 28-year-old hasn't carved out a consistent workload on offense this season, but he had certainly been making an impact in his limited opportunities on Sunday. Anthony Gould will earn more snaps as the Colts' No. 4 receiver with Dulin sidelined, and he'll likely step up as a returner on special teams, too.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy failed to reach 100 yards passing and threw his ninth and 10th interceptions of the season in a humbling loss on Sunday at Green Bay. In total, the second-year quarterback finished 12-for-19 for 87 yards with no touchdowns, and rushed for 10 yards on two carries. The Packers sacked McCarthy five times as the Vikings gained four total yards in the second half. It was the third consecutive rough outing for McCarthy, who is getting his first extended look as a starter. The Vikings attempted to control the game on the ground, but ran just 44 plays and gained 145 total yards. Fantasy managers in Superflex leagues will want to tread cautiously with McCarthy next week at Seattle.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (coach's decision) and running back Jaydon Blue (coach's decision) are healthy scratches for Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles. Both players will be inactive. Tolbert had not previously missed a game this season, but his demotion is not necessarily a surprise, given that his snap share has been below 20% in each of the Cowboys' last three games. He has just 14 catches for 172 yards and one touchdown on offense, plus five kick returns on special teams. Ryan Flournoy and KaVontae Turpin should earn more opportunities in his absence. Meanwhile, Blue has been active for just four games during his rookie campaign, averaging 2.95 yards per carry. Dallas is carrying just two running backs (Javonte Williams and Malik Davis) into Sunday's game, as well as fullback Hunter Luepke.
From RotoBaller
